Sunday, 27 July 2014

Lovers: Losers - The Irish Theatre Players (27 July 2014)

Firstly, I must apologise to the cast and crew of the second
play under the Lovers banner, Winners. I had felt unwell during the first play
and a dash outside for some fresh air during intermission – bypassing what I’m
sure was a lovely supper – didn’t improve the situation. Discretion became the
better part of theatrical valour as I headed home. It turns out I am a Loser…

Which is a, um, nice segue to the first play presented at
the Irish Club in Subiaco…

Andy (Rory Buckley) is cursed by his mother-in-law, the
widow Mrs Wilson (Clare Wilson), who has been firmly ensconced in the upstairs
bedroom since her husband died three (or was it four?) years ago. She has the
infuriating habit of ringing a bell whenever Andy and his wife Hanna (Katie
Toner) are too quiet for her liking. This sits none too well with Hanna who resents
being at her mother’s beck and call. It also means the married couple need to
find creative ways to spend some quality time together which involves the loud recitation
of poetry whilst engaging in less literary activity. Not that the pious widow
and her equally religious friend, Cissy (Siobhan Wright) would condone such
things. Andy takes great delight in the news then that Saint Philomena, Mrs
Wilson’s idol (in more ways than one), has been disgraced leading to a drunken
and humorous confrontation. But in the end this frustrating arrangement
survives making everyone a loser of sorts.

The set is basic with a couch depicting the downstairs
lounge room and a bed (hidden by half the stage curtain when not required)
representing the upstairs bedroom. Buckley directly addresses the audience as
Andy tells his tale of woe and while he gives an amiable enough performance I
found his Irish accent very thick. I suspect I also missed some of the subtlety
in the humour with references I was unsure of. Wright and Wilson are very much
supporting players but are suitably chaste and aghast as required. Toner
injects some real zeal as Hanna, a role I believe is written to be much older.
Having seen her in So Much To Tell You it’s clear she is very good at playing
feisty which is what is required here as well. While talented, I would be
very interested to see her in a ‘quieter’ role next outing with more subtlety
and less bluster.

It was a full matinee audience and with many Irish accents
in evidence I’m sure the play resonated more strongly with the locals. The only
downside with the numbers was that the seating arrangements were pretty tight
and a tad uncomfortable getting to and from. There were appreciative chuckles
throughout the play but it was neither a true comedy nor drama, rather a wry
exploration of a couple’s misfortune which seemed to have no end in sight. But
then that appeared to be the point.